Battle against the Arrancar (VI)

It was a Hollow Visored with dark red patterns, covering the left half of his face. The mask's patterns were complex and exquisite, with dark red patterns meandering and flowing on a black background, like burning flames or flowing blood. An incredibly powerful and suffocating Reiatsu erupted from Ichigo Kurosaki, tearing and distorting the surrounding air.

Grimmjow's pupils contracted sharply. He could feel that Ichigo Kurosaki's Reiatsu had surged several times over in that instant. That power was mixed with the aura of Soul Reaper and also with the aura of a Hollow. The two completely different powers merged perfectly together, forming a sense of oppression that he had never felt before.

"What kind of power is this?!" Grimmjow's voice carried a hint of fear for the first time.

Ichigo Kurosaki did not answer. He swung Tensa Zangetsu, and a huge black crescent- Getsuga Tenshō roared out from the blade, slashing towards Grimmjow with the momentum to destroy everything.

Grimmjow instinctively drew his sword to parry, the black Getsuga Tenshō clashing with his Zanpakuto, sparking dazzling flashes. The immense impact numbed his arm, and he staggered back several steps. Just as he was desperately trying to block the Getsuga Tenshō, Ichigo Kurosaki had already vanished from his sight.

"Didn't I already say?" Ichigo Kurosaki's voice came from behind Grimmjow, calm to the bone. "I don't have time to explain."

Another black Getsuga Tenshō erupted from the Tensa Zangetsu, forming a pincer attack with the first Getsuga Tenshō. Grimmjow was struck by both Getsuga Tenshō, and his entire body was engulfed in the flames and smoke of the explosion.

Boom!!

Smoke filled the air, and the smell of burning permeated the atmosphere.

As the smoke cleared, Grimmjow's figure emerged from the smoldering flames. He was covered in wounds, his white clothes torn to shreds, and blood streamed down his forehead, blurring his vision. But his eyes remained fierce, and he had not given up his will to fight.

However, Ichigo Kurosaki gave him no chance to catch his breath. The third Getsuga Tenshō was unleashed, the black slash accompanied by a sharp whooshing sound, aimed directly at Grimmjow's vitals. At the same time, Ichigo Kurosaki himself followed closely behind, his Tensa Zangetsu aimed straight at Grimmjow's throat.

Grimmjow gritted his teeth and raised his Zanpakuto to block Getsuga Tenshō. However, the instant his Zanpakuto made contact with Getsuga Tenshō—

Boom!!

Another Zanpakuto explosion! Grimmjow was blasted away, rolling several times on the ground before finally coming to a stop. His Zanpakuto was covered in cracks, and the Reiatsu emanating from it fluctuated wildly, clearly indicating that he had suffered severe damage.

Grimmjow, who had been blasted away, saw Ichigo Kurosaki charging forward again, and a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. He raised his hand, and a red light gathered at his fingertips— Cero! A powerful Cero shot out from his fingertips, heading straight for Ichigo Kurosaki's face.

Ichigo Kurosaki reacted with lightning speed, holding his sword horizontally in front of him. The Cero the blade of Tensa Zangetsu, unleashing a blinding burst of light.

But he didn't back down. He gritted his teeth, his Reiatsu surging wildly within him, black Reiatsu flowing from his palm into the blade to fight against the power of the Cero. Then, he exerted his strength, and with a powerful swing of Tensa Zangetsu —that Cero, which was capable of destroying everything, was actually cleaved in two by him!

The Cero, split in two, swept past Ichigo Kurosaki on either side. Ichigo Kurosaki himself was unharmed and continued charging towards Grimmjow.

Grimmjow had already begun moving the instant his Cero was cleaved. He forcefully twisted his body from his downward trajectory, flashing to the position opposite Ichigo Kurosaki. The two faced each other at a distance of more than ten meters, their gazes clashing in the air, their invisible fighting spirit clashing as if it were a tangible force.

"Good lad..." Grimmjow wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, a rare hint of approval flashing in his eyes. "You've got some skills."

Ichigo Kurosaki did not respond. He raised Tensa Zangetsu once more, preparing to launch his final attack. However, in that very instant as he charged up—

Click.

A faint cracking sound came from his face. Ichigo Kurosaki was startled, and before he could react, the Hollow Visored on his face was covered with cracks, and then suddenly shattered, turning into countless fragments that dissipated into the air.

The moment his Visored shattered, his Reiatsu plummeted like a receding tide. The power that had been strong enough to suppress Grimmjow dissipated rapidly like a deflated balloon. His breathing became rapid, his body began to tremble, and a strong sense of exhaustion washed over him— his Hollowfication time had come.

Grimmjow was taken aback at first, then burst into maniacal laughter. "Haha! It seems that kind of power isn't so easy to control after all! Kid, you're still too green!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already charged forward with his sword. This time, the tide of battle had completely turned— Ichigo Kurosaki's condition had deteriorated significantly, his movements had become sluggish, and his reactions had become dull. He tried his best to block Grimmjow's attacks, but each block forced him to take a step back, and each collision left his hands numb.

Grimmjow's sword rained down like a storm, one strike after another, each faster than the last. Ichigo Kurosaki was quickly slashed multiple times, his Shihakusho stained crimson with blood. But he did not fall, still gripping Tensa Zangetsu tightly, still desperately defending himself.

"Not bad, not bad!" Grimmjow progressed, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of killing intent and fighting spirit. "Much stronger than last time! But... this is where it ends!"

He knocked Ichigo Kurosaki strike, then raised his hand, and red light once again gathered at his fingertips— Cero! This time, he didn't rush to fire it, but slowly, little by little, gathered his power.

The red light grew brighter and stronger, distorting the surrounding air. He was about to deliver the final blow to Ichigo Kurosaki, to end the battle with this Cero.

Ichigo Kurosaki gasped for breath, his injuries rendering him almost unable to stand. He stared at the increasingly powerful Cero at Grimmjow's fingertips, a surge of resentment rising within him—was this how it ended? Had he lost just like that?

At this critical moment—

A blue Reiatsu slash descended from the sky, striking Grimmjow's Cero he was condensing precisely!

Boom!!

The Cero exploded mid-flight, sending Grimmjow staggering back several steps. The blue light and the flames of the explosion intertwined, illuminating the entire battlefield.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ichigo Kurosaki quickly retreated, creating distance between himself and Grimmjow. He gasped for breath, turning his head to look in the direction from which the slash had come—